The synthesis, spectroscopic, electrochemical and X-ray diffraction characterization of novel bridged ferrocene precursors for use in self-assembled monolayers

The synthesis of 1,6-diferrocenylhexane-1,6-dione (I), 1-ferrocenylcarbonyl-2-ferrocenylcyclopentene (II) and 1,6-diferrocenylhexane (III) is reported. All three compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and infra-red spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Compounds I and III each exhibit a single two electron transfer, while compound (II) exhibits two single electron transfers. Compounds (I) and (II) were further studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. In compound (I), both carbonyl groups are in plane with the adjacent ferrocenyl Cp ring. For compound (II) one of the ferrocenyl Cp rings is coplanar with the carbonyl group, the other with the double bond of the cyclopentene ring, but the Cdouble bondO moiety and the double bond are basically perpendicular to each other.